Marine float



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A B DE JARNETT MARINE FLOAT 27 z7/Q30j@-f Jf 50 /ia 2 Nov. 17, 1964 Filed Dec. 27, 1962 Nov. 17, 1964 A B DE JARNl-:TT 3,157,144

MARINE FLOAT I N VENTOR 7 /l 7de/Ufff.

United States Patent O 3,157,144 MARINE FLOAT A B De Jarnett, 1016 Maryland Ave., West Sacramento, Calif.

Filed Dec. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 248,837 4 Claims. (Cl. 114-5) This invention relates to marine floats and more particularly to iioating docks, covered and open berths, boat houses, swimming floats, Work platforms, and the like.

In the past numerous Itypes of iioats have been used. These normally use a wooden deck structure from which all structural strength is developed plus a means of floating this structure :suc-h as logs, barrels, polystyrene planks, concrete pontoons and Fiberglas cells. Other types have used individu-ally formed units which included both the oatation and the deck structure coupled together by wood stringers along the side. The conventional material for this Itype of float is concrete. A recent innovation in this method is the use of Fiberglas.

rllhe instant invention uses individually formed units including both oatation `and deck and contemplates as a primary object, an improved structure of lloatation unit .and .the means of providing the structural strength required.

An additional important object of this invention is to provide a labor saving method of yand apparatus for installation of oating docks or the like. Conventional docks require skilled labor to construct the deck structure over water, which is extremely costly. If constructed on land fand launched, the heavy structures are subject to damage and are extremely dilcult to handle. This invention provides a method of construction whereby two men can handle an individual unit, placing it in position and attaching it to `the floating structure. The use of conventional concrete reinforcing 4materials and special concrete `accessories provides a product requiring little in the way of special equipment and lassures a ready supply of materia-ls for its construction. I-lere `again cost-s have been pared over lconventional docks.

A further important feature of this invention is the buyer may install it using any desired deck material. A conventional wood deck, a piece of plywood, Masonite, or specially formed Fiberglas decking providing beauty as well as utility.

A further object is the easy removal of individual units of the structure. Units may be removed by removing bolts through the side stringers for lreplacement in case of damage or for cleaning marine life, etc. The entire structure lmay be removed and relocated at little expense and without damage.

Another object is the maintenance of a more constant freeboard of the iioating structure. The individual units when attached adjacent to each other maintain ya constant level of deck. Spot loading distributes the load to severeal iioats and makes little difference in freeboard. However, an extreme Aload such as may be applied by building some additional structure or supporting a ramp will bring additional floatationinto use in an increasing ratio due to the sloping side surfaces of the pontoon.

The unit-s composing a feature of the instant invention may be formed .in convenient sizes without costly remodeling of the mold.

Still other objects reside in lthe combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, yall as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of a plurality of floats joined by stringers, partially broken away, compri-sing -an element of the instant inventive concept.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical longtiudinal sectional View 3,157,144 Patented Nov. 17, 1964 Cice taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1 is viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken `substantially `along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows but with the stringere not shown;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical `longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the center plane 4 4 of FIG- URE 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 2 `as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows but with the :stringere not shown, the left side being considered the portside and the right side being considered the starboard;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 6 6 ofFIG- URE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows but with the string'ers not shown, the port and starboard portions considered the same as for FIG. 5;

' and FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary det-ail, in horizontal Isectional view showing a constructional detail.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the `drawings in detail, there is generally indicated at 1l) a oat unit constructed in accordance with the instant inventive concept. Each individual `float i-s comprised of a framework of steel rods, which in the illustrative embodiment shown, includes spaced parallel longitudinally extending top rods 11 connected by transversely extending end rods 12, and a plurality or" transverse .stringers 13. Lower longitudinally extending rods ld are vertically aligned with rods 1l, `and vertical connecting stringers 15 at spaced intervals connect rods -11 and 14. Vertical rods l5 are bent inwardly as at 16 to form lower horizontal portions 17 and thence bent upwardly as at 13 4to form angularly disposed portions 'i9 which contact and are secured to adjacent transverse members 12 or 13 in accordance with their position. All rod connections are securely welded -to afford a tight and secure unitary wire cage or frame.

Pai-rs of crossed or diagonally disposed reinforcing .members ME extend in vertical planes at each end frame angularly from one end of each upper rod 1l to each opposite end ofthe opposite lower rod 1d to aiford a substantially rigid cagelike frame structure, which provides a foundation for the float member per se, to be described hereinafter.

Bolt sockets, to be more fully .described hereinafter, are attached to the cage or frame at predetermined intervals intervals and in desired localities, and the cage is then placed in a mold. Obviously, the cage or frame and its associated mold may be of any desired convenient size, although in actual practice a section of approximately 8 feet in length by 4 feet in width `has been. found desirable for convenience in handling.

The mold is then filled with plastic foam, by injection, or other desired method, until the steel frame is cove-red tto a minimum depth of 3 inches overall. During the molding process the bolt sockets are held in aligne-d relation with the edges of a mold in any desired conventional manner, and, after completion of the plastic foam injection, the completed floats may be removed from the mold.

In finishing each float a suitableV deck 25' is applied to the upper surface thereof and secured thereto by bolts 2'7 engaged in sockets 26. The bolts and sockets are standard loop coil concrete accessories readily available at construction hardware suppliers and are comprised of helically wound heavy duty wire of a thickness corresponding to the grooves in the bolt, and a U-shaped reinforcing wire securing loop 29 is secured to the exterior of the helix, with its bight extended around the adjacent rod 11, or such other rod as may be immediately adjacent thereto, with the rod being passed through the loop formed by the U-shaped member 29 prior to the welding of the cage or frame in its desired position. Suitable washers 30 may be positioned beneath the bolt heads as desired. The deck may be of any suitable material, such, for example, as tempered Masonite, laminated Fiberglas, plywood, or conventional wood may be employed. The vertical bolts and sockets passing through the deck to a rod in the frame are in tension, and as the deck is fastened tightly to the top of the plastic foam, the outer top layer of foam particularly in the areas around the vertical bolts is in compression.

Similar bolts 27 may be employed in identical sockets 26 extending `laterally through the sides of the plastic foam to secure wooden side stringers 3l thereto. The horizontal bolts and sockets passing through the side stringers to a rod in the frame are in tension, and as the stringers are fastened tightly to the sides of the plastic foam, the outer side layers of `foam particularly in the areas around the horizontal bolts are in compression. In the preferred arrangement two centrally positioned sockets are provided as best seen in FIGURE l and two end sockets so that the stringers may extend half the length of adjacent aligned floats itl to secure the aligned tloats in related assembly.

The cross-sectional shape of the oat is best shown in FGURES and 6 wherein there is a relatively thin central body portion 35 provided on its underside with a channel 36 on either side of which depend side portions 37, to atiord stability and lightness. The ends of channel 36 are closed by plastic foam skirts 35, and the sides of the channel are inclined inwardly and upwardly as at 39, thus affording a stable, relatively light weight oat which is centrally provided normally with an air space which increases the normal buoyancy of the device. The longitudinal edges of the lloat have greater vertical dimensions than the center or longitudinal axis of the float and thus as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 the float may be said as having two pontoons or two keels, a design which is well known for its superior stability against pitching as compared to a flat bottom tloat.

Obviously, the doats may be assembled in any desired pattern and connected longitudinally, transversely in multiples, 4or used individually as desired.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved marine float, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive f concept, and as many modications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A marine float comprised of a plurality of metal rods and a plurality of attached metal bolt socket elements, all joined to form a unitary box-like frame,

a cover of molded plastic foam completely encasing said frame, so as to provide a uniformly solid buoyant mass with the exception of said frame and bolt sockets,

the outside of the float being shaped as a rectangular parallelopiped but deviating therefrom by the presence of a large central bott-om cavity extending part way towards the float top,

said cavity being in transverse elevation of decreasing horizontal dimension upwardly with respect to a vertical center plane extending fore and aft of the lloat,

l and of a maximum transverse width about one-half the total beam of the lloat,

said cavity providing greater transverse stability against pitching than a float which is of exact rectangular parallelopiped shape,

said plurality of attached metal bolt socket elements all facing outwardly, some socket elements being horizontal and some socket elements being vertical, all socket elements attached to said frame at spaced points thereof and extending completely through the exterior skin portions of said molded plastic foam cover,

whereby during molding the frame may be supported and positioned with respect to its mold by threading horizontal bolts through the mold sides and into the horizontal socket elements,

and whereby during otatien use of the float, horizontal stringers may be compressed against the longitudinal sides of the cover of plastic foam by threading horizontal bolts through the stringers and into the horizontal socket elements,

and whereby during Iioatation use of the float, a deck may be compressed against the top of the cover of plastic foam by threading vertical bolts through such deck and into the vertical socket elements.

2. A flat top marine float comprised of a plurality of metal rods joined together to form a three dimensional rigid unitary cage or frame,

a cover of molded plastic foam completely and outwardly uniformly encasing said cage or frame, and providing a uniform till at all float cross-sections between and around said rods,

transverse vertical cross-sections of the float having a rectangular and straight line perimeter with the exception of the bottom line which extends in the center half upwardly and centrally converging, thus delining a cavity, said cavity extending about half way towards the top of the iloat and for the full longitudinal extent of the float,

vertically upwards and outwardly facing bolt sockets secured at spaced distances along an upper outer rod of said cage or frame and extending to the exterior horizontal top face of said cover,

and a flat deck compressibly secured to said top face of said cover' by bolts extending tightly into said vertical sockets,

horizontal and outwardly facing bolt sockets secured at spaced distances along said upper outer rod of said cage or frame and each extending to a closer vertical face of said cover,

and side stringers compressibly secured to the outer vertical side faces of said cover by bolts extending tightly into said latter horizontal sockets.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein two side stringers are secured to each outer side face of a lloat yby utilizing at least two lbolts and sockets per single Stringer,

each Stringer being of a length substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the lloat, and having one end mounted closely and equally adjacent the mid-longitudinal length of the float,

whereby approximately one-half the length of each stringer extends beyond the ends of the float for connection to an adjacent oat.

4. A flat top marine float comprised of a plurality of metal rods joined together to form a three dimensional, rigid, unitary boxlike cage, protected outwardly thereof by a homogeneous cover of plastic foam, and provided inwardly between said rods with a homogeneous lill of the same material,

the top of said cage including an oblong perimeter of rods and two diagonals from opposite corners,

the outer ends of said cage each including as top rods the said perimeter rods of the ends of the oblong, a vertical continuation of each end of said last rods to `form connecting stringers, lower inwardly directed 5 6 horizontal portions and final upwardly bent portions threading bolts inwardly through the surface elements l which connect to medial portions of said top rods, and tightly int-o the bolt sockets.

the `outer ends of said cage also including diagonal rods,

one of said diagonal rods extending from -the top of References Cited in the flle 0f this Patent one Stringer at one side to the bottom of the other 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Stringer, and a second one of said diagonal rods exi tending from the top of the other Stringer tothe bot- Ile Usab. June 14 1960 the outer sides of said cage including as top rods the held against outer surfaces of the foam cover, by 25 Engineering Record, vol. 71, page 347, Jam-June 1915. 

1. A MARINE FLOAT COMPRISED OF A PLURALITY OF METAL RODS AND A PLURALITY OF ATTACHED METAL BOLT SOCKET ELEMENTS, ALL JOINED TO FORM A UNITARY BOX-LIKE FRAME A COVER OF MOLDED PLASTIC FOAM COMPLETELY ENCASING SAID FRAME, SO AS TO PROVIDE A UNIFORMLY SOLID BYOUANT MASS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SAID FRAME AND BOLT SOCKETS, THE OUTSIDE OF THE FLOAT BEING SHAPED AS A RECTANGULAR PARALLELOPIPED BUT DEVIATING THEREFROM BY THE PRESENCE OF A LARGE CENTRAL BOTTOM CAVITY EXTENDING PART WAY TOWARDS THE FLOAT TOP, SAID CAVITY BEING IN TRANSVERSE ELEVATION OF DECREASING HORIZONTAL DIMENSION UPWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO A VERTICAL CENTER PLANE EXTENDING FORE AND AFT OF THE FLOAT, AND OF A MAXIMUM TRANSVERSE WIDTH ABOUT ONE-HALF THE TOTAL BEAM OF THE FLOAT, SAID CAVITY PROVIDING GREATER TRANSVERSE STABILITY AGAINST PITCHING THAN A FLOAT WHICH IS OF EXACT RECTANGULAR PARALLELOPIPED SHAPE, SAID PLURALITY OF ATTACHED METAL BOLT SOCKET ELEMENTS ALL FACING OUTWARDLY, SOME SOCKET ELEMENTS BEING HORIZONTAL AND SOME SOCKET ELEMENTS BEING VERTICAL, ALL SOCKET ELEMENTS ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME AT SPACED POINTS THEREOF AND EXTENDING COMPLETELY THROUGH THE EXTERIOR SKIN PORTIONS OF SAID MOLDED PLASTIC FOAM COVER, WHEREBY DURING MOLDING THE FRAME MAY BE SUPPORTED AND POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO ITS MOLD BY THREADING HORIZONTAL BOLTS THROUGH THE MOLD SIDES AND INTO THE HORIZONTAL SOCKET ELEMENTS, AND WHEREBY DURING FLOTATION USE OF THE FLOAT, HORIZONTAL STRINGERS MAY BE COMPRESSED AGAINST THE LONGITUDINAL SIDES OF THE COVER OF PLASTIC FOAM BY THREADING HORIZONTAL BOLTS THROUGH THE STRINGERS AND INTO THE HORIZONTAL SOCKET ELEMENTS. AND WHEREBY DURING FLOATATION USE OF THE FLOAT, A DECK MAY BE COMPRESSED AGINST THE TOP OF THE COVER OF PLASTIC FOAM BY THREADING VERTICAL BOLTS THROUGH SUCH DECK AND INTO THE VERTICAL SOCKET ELEMENTS. 